Tullamore Eyes Spring Riches

Hot WS stallion Savabeel will have a genuine contender for the feature spring cups following the grand staying performance of his son Tullamore to claim the Gr 2 Brisbane Cup. The 2400 metre event qualified the four-year-old for the prized events and justified the decision of his connections to make the trip to Queensland.

Tullamore had finished runner-up on a soft Rosehill track in the Listed Winter Cup the previous Saturday and trainer Gai Waterhouse again pulled the right rein with the seven day back-up. The champion Sydney trainer has regarded the gelding as a prime Caulfield and Melbourne Cups horse for some time and his performance on Saturday endorsed that view.

Rider Chris Munce elected to trail the leader and warm favourite Glass Harmonium before angling clear at the top of the straight. When called upon for a serious effort Tullamore dug deep and clearly outstayed his more experienced rivals.

“He was a bit keen today through the run and I was happy to let the grey horse (Glass Harmonium) go, that was my plan for the whole race, I knew he would take me into the race,” Munce said. “Tullamore had a soft run up until the 600 metres so I was more than happy to put the pressure on him then. He is very tough, typical of Gai’s, all bone and muscle and just keeps going. I can’t see why he won’t run 3200 metres – he is a pretty genuine stayer.”

Tullamore was bred by prominent Hunterville racing identity Christopher Grace who also shared in the ownership until his sale to clients of the Waterhouse stable. A winner and three-time placegetter when trained here by David Haworth and Matt Dixon, he is the first foal of the winning Flying Spur mare Trocair who hails from a strong black type-performing Canadian family.